Varsha Pandey
The folk dance of Gujarat is the hallmark of the distinctive Gujarati culture and tradition.
Lively, colorful, and energetic Gujarati folk dances really reflect the essence of society.
Songs, dances, and plays richly preserved the tradition of Gujarat.
Gujarati has got by a born talent for folk singing and dancing.
A large number of the festival celebrated.
So, it is the land of festivals.
However, these ceremonies are based on their rich culture and heritage with concerts and traditional dance forms.
Gujarat is not only prevalent in the western state but is quite popular all over the nation.
The most famous folk dance of Gujarat is Garba and Dandiya.
Bhavai Nritya is Gujarat’s folk drama.
Most art traditions have originated in ancient times and as well preserved over centuries and ages.
So, Various traditional dance forms of Gujarat are as follows:
- Garba
- Dandiya
- Bhavai
- Tippani
- Padhar
- Hoodo
Garba folk dance of Gujarat
Garba is the most popular folk dance of Gujarat.
This folk dance of Gujarat is performed by the female of Gujarat.
Shakti-puja the worship of Goddess Jagadamba also relates to this.
Perform during Navratri this dance.
On occasions like Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, and Holi women performed the Garba folk dance.
During dance performances, kedia and churidar are usually worn.
musical instruments of this dance form include damru, tabla, nagara, murali, Turi, shehnai, etc.
Garba literally means Garbha Deep. Garba is a symbol of the creativity
So, In this form, Worship Mother Durga.
Before starting, light a lamp inside a pitcher with many holes of clay to invoke mother power.
Then by dancing around this ‘Garba’, the women delight in Mother Durga.
During the dance, you must have seen that women use 3 claps.
These 3 claps are dedicated to the Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh of this entire universe.
Hand clapping is one of the important steps of the dance.
Dandiya folk dance of Gujarat
One of the most popular folk dances of Gujarat is the dandiya or stick dance.
During the Navratri of Ashwin month,
Dance perform on Durga Puja
On the tenth day, India celebrates Dussehra and Vijayadashami.
On this day Shriram killed Ravana along with Mother Durga, the demon Mahishasura.
Moreover, Dandiya is related to Maa Durga’s war with the Mahishasura demon.
In this, the sticks of Dandiya represent the sword of Mother Durga with which women play.
It is also a symbol of women’s power and energy.
But Dandiya Raas’s relationship with Shri Krishna
Everyone knows about the Raslila created by Lord Krishna in Radha and Gopis for six consecutive months in Vrindavan.
This was the time when Shri Krishna was not only of Radha but of all the gopis.
During that time the moon had not set for six months and the sun had not risen as if everything had come to a standstill.
The ras Lila that Sri Krishna composed with all the gopis on that full moon night was the climax of love.
In this, Kanha was dancing with gopis in full spirit and playing dandiya.
Dandiya Raas is mainly related to Raslila created by Shri Krishna.
History of Dandiya
Since Lord Krishna was related to Mathura and Vrindavan.
So, Dandiya played there only.
But after a time Sri Krishna left his capital Mathura and settled in Dwarka, Gujarat.
That is why Dandiya is the traditional dance of Gujarat.
Play in the Marwar region of the state but its fame also increased over time.
But now it organizes in almost every corner of the country.
As we told you that the beginning of playing starts from the beginning of Navratri.
Perform Mother Durga’s Aarti in the evening the dance play start.
It is worth seeing in the last days of Navratri.
Apart from this, it performs on occasions like Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Radha Ashtami, Holi, etc.
Nowadays it has become so common that people have started playing it as a celebration of marriage etc. Utsav.
Dance performed in a group in steps of measure in a circular movement.
The lathi used in this form is the sword of Goddess Durga.
Women perform dance gracefully and rhythmically, but men also join it.
They usually wear traditional Gujarati attire.
For example, attractive graces, choli, and bandhani dupattas are made with silver jewelry.
Bhavai folk dance of Gujarat
Bhavai dance is a dance of emotions and is a distinct folk drama of Gujarat.
In this form of folk dance, male and female dancers balance 7 to 9 brass pots on their heads, as they are nimbly, and then tilted on top of the glass with the soles of their feet.
The Bhavai drama is a continuous performance.
That runs throughout the night.
However performing in an open field in front of an audience, is a source of entertainment.
So, a male musician plays background music dancers.
A melodious folk song is usually played by musicians, which adds to the beauty of bhavai dance.
Many instruments for example Pakwaja, Dholak Jhanjhar, Sarangi, and Harmonium are played.
The dancers are also beautifully embellished.
They traditionally wear colorful clothes.
For making the dance more attractive.
But dances are performed on many occasions.
Dance performances can also be seen at festivals and weddings.
The government has also taken many necessary measures to avoid the extinction of these folk.
Many NGOs are also playing an active role in promoting this folk culture.
This artistic folk dance is promoted in various parts of India and also abroad.
Tippani folk dance of Gujarat
This is a popular folk dance in Gujarat, from the Chorwad district.
But This dance is performed by females dancer.
It is common among the Koli and Kharwa peoples of the coastal region.
The dance originated among the laborers but is now performed at festivals and marriages.
Folk costumes are also traditional and distinctive, including kedia and tight trousers or churidars, colorful embroidered caps, turban, and waistbands.
Padhar
Introduced by the people of the Padhar community.
The Padhar dance is also one of the major folk dances of Gujarat.
The people of the Padhar community are mainly fishermen who live along the banks of Nal Sarovar in the Bhal region.
He is a follower of Hinduism and worships Goddess Durga in various forms.
While performing this dance, the dancer mimics the events in the mariners’ lives.
The rise and fall of sea waves and the wandering nature of the Mariner’s job are shown through this dance.
The dancer holds small sticks and dances by riding the boats and singing water-related songs.
Hoodo
Hoodo, another popular folk dance of Gujarat, is a dance form of the Bharwad tribe, a shepherd community in Gujarat.
The idea of dance originated from the quarrel of the sheep.
Furthermore, This dance is mimicked by the movements of two sheep that surround their heads.
The dancers as well as clap their hands vigorously and rhythmically while traditional instruments of dholak, harmonium, flute, kansi, Jada, and manjira are used as accompaniments.
Basically, Popular in the Panchal region of Gujarat, the beauty of the dance lies within the lavish costumes worn by the dancers.
An interesting part of the dress is the presence of an umbrella with beautiful embroidery patterns and the fine lace and mirror work are simply stunning.
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